RoK, Japan look to boost agricultural exports to Vietnam

The Republic of Korea (RoK) and Japan are eyeing bigger shares of Vietnam’s agricultural product and food market, given that the festive season is approaching with growing customer demand.

In a recent promotion event in Ho Chi Minh City where various agricultural products made in the RoK were introduced, Uiseong province has showcased to Vietnamese consumers its signature products, including kimchi, black garlic, red ginseng, ginseng, grapes, apples, and fermented fruit drinks.

The event formed part of a project to support Korean agricultural exporters to weather the COVID-19 pandemic and gain broader access to the Vietnamese market.

Hairim Yoo, Director of Seoho, a Korean company, said the province has organised many trade promotion events to introduce a variety of high-quality farm products to Vietnamese consumers between 2019 and 2021.

A representative from Uiseong’s administration said following the RoK government’s New Southern Policy, the province has been accelerating promotion of agricultural products to boost exports to Vietnam. Additionally, the number of Koreans living permanently in Vietnam is on a rise, providing a larger market for the RoK’s agricultural exporters.

Similarly, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in HCM City has launched an exhibition of Japanese food products called “TASTY in all of JAPAN” at Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel in the southern city’s District 1. The ongoing exhibition features about 300 agricultural products from across Japan.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, agricultural exporters from Vietnam and Japan had few chances to meet and exchange information over the last two years, said a JETRO representative.

Through such events, JETRO wants to directly introduce Japanese food products to local customers and enterprises, so Japan will be able to expand trade cooperation and foster exports to Vietnam in the coming time, the representative said.